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Owners pair barbecue with former favorites Hop in and take a ride with local car club Business more than just a place to work out

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Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), the professional summer theatre of northwestern Illinois, has the shows you will love: hot new shows just leaving Broadway, great American plays, everyone’s “old favorite” musicals, and the best in country, pop, and rock-n-roll revues in our “JukeBox Series.” Timber Lake Playhouse hires the best young theatrical talent from all over the United States, and we regularly bring back talented alumni who have gone on to stellar careers on Broadway, TV and Film. Noted past performers are Tony Winning Actress Jayne Houdyshell, Michael Gross (Family Ties), Jennifer Garner and Saundra Santiago (Miami Vice, Guiding Light, The Sopranos, and Broadway's Evita and more). Santiago last appeared at TLP in 2016 as Rose in Gypsy. Located just south of Mount Carroll, Illinois about 10 miles from the Mississippi River, TLP is a short drive from Fulton, Sterling and Rockford, Illinois. The current theatre building opened in 1975 with 371 seats. The building is fully air conditioned, and the nine-acre wooded campus is perfect for any other activity you and your guests desire. From picnicking on the deck overlooking beautiful Timber Lake to attending a pre-show activity in our newly acquired rustic barn, TLP is a great destination for a day of fun. Check out our website at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org for more information about our shows and other activities.

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Sterling-Rock Falls

COVER • STORY

MAGAZINE

Publisher Don T. Bricker Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Jeff Rogers Magazine Editors Lucas Pauley Rusty Schrader Page Design Lucas Pauley Published by

Sauk Valley Media 3200 E. Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 815-625-3600 Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Sterling-Rock Falls Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

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Contents 7

7 – Boston Leather Local company has found a perfect fit in the Sauk Valley

13 – Triple P BBQ Local couple has gone from barbecue in the back yard to busy business in Rock Falls

16 – Sauk Valley Shifters Take a look at local car club’s members and their rides

21 – The Zen of Wrestling Prophetstown native teaches from experience in Rock Falls

25 – Food Fitness You Sterling business helps customers hit healthy goals

29 – Artist Crystal Collinson You might know her for mixed media or frequent face painting

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Chicago’s loss has been Sterling’s gain

Local manufacturer Boston Leather celebrates 80 years STORY BY ANDREA MILLS & PHOTOS BY SCOTT IDE FOR STERLING-ROCK FALLS LIVING

oston Leather has been in town since 1999, moved to the area from Chicago by its third owner. “We’ve grown in the Sauk Valley,” Tony Valentino, who purchased the business in 1991 with his late wife, said. “The workforce here is, for our needs, excellent, and we enjoy doing business here. We feel lucky to be in the area. We’re fortunate.” This year is the company’s 80th year, having started in 1938 in Chicago. “It was never located in Boston, and why it’s called Boston Leather, we have no idea,” Tony said.

The move

Tony of Rock Falls, formerly of Chicago and Dixon, said Chicago was becoming difficult for a companies like Boston Leather. “We need low overhead space,” he said. “Because we don’t sell retail, we don’t need anything attractive.” In his first 10 years of ownership, the company moved three times. Locations that suited them were being eyed for condominiums and places were harder and harder to find and so was the right workforce. “We stumbled across Sterling quite by chance,” Tony said. “They had an attractive package here, so I bought 3 acres of land and we had the building erected [in 1999].” The high employment in the area also was a draw. “The workforce here is very good for what we do,” he said. “If I wanted to hire a group of engineers, I’d probably be in trouble, but unskilled, trainable workers with a good work ethic are plentiful. Our workers are very good, very dependable, very hard-working. And that was one of the reasons we moved here.” Owners TJ Valentino (left) and Tony Valentino stand among the different belts they produce at Boston Leather.

Continued on page 9

Boston Leather

Address: 1801 Eastwood Drive, Sterling Phone: 815-622-1635 Email: info@bostonleather.com Online: bostonleather.com and Facebook

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Continued from page 7

What they do Boston Leather employed 18 when it arrived – now it’s 45. The company sells its products in probably every state and in several countries, and it imports as little as possible for production. “We make leather accessories, initially it was for law enforcement – holsters, gun belts, handcuff cases – and then we started making items for firemen, and we’ve always made belts, but now belts are kind of driving our business,” Tony said. “We make all the belts for United Parcel, as an example. We just make a lot of belts. Everything we sell we make here.” The company only sells to people who resell. “In order to survive as a manufacturer, you have to have a focus and ours is made in the USA, quick turnaround and we only sell to resellers,” he said. “You never want to sell to your customer’s customer. That being said, you’d be hard pressed to find our product in the Sauk Valley other than at Modern Shoe Shop in Dixon that sells our belts.” The leather for the popular belts comes dyed and tanned.

Kevin Aguilar uses a leather cutting machine at the business.

Continued on page 11

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Martha Flores (above) stains a belt and Maria Rosa (left) stitches them.

Continued from page 9

“Men, when they see our belts, love them,” Tony said. “And the leather we use, by and large, is from the States and it’s all mainly steer hide. They’re substantial.”

Meet the bosses

Tony and his son, TJ are at the helm. TJ joined the business in 1999 and moved to Sterling 3 1/2 years ago. “I like the sales part of it, talking to the customers and going to the trade shows,” he said. “And also making improvements internally. We were able to get the factory laid out, so that we didn’t have to add on. And that was about a 3-year project, and we did hire a continuous improvement position, so that person’s in charge of making sure that what we’re doing, we’re doing right and anything we can improve on just makes us a step more efficient.” Tony enjoys his job. “I should be retired now, but I’m not,” he said. “I enjoy coming to work. I mean it’s what’s nice about our product – you can see the raw material come in the loading dock and after a period of time you see the finished product go out the loading dock and then, what’s really neat, is seeing it used in the marketplace, seeing a police officer or fireman wearing your product or a truck driver.”

“You know if you need the space, you need the space but I’ve been holding off spending the money, but at some point we’re going to have to do it and I have enough land,” he said. Workwear is on the move now and an 1801 line of belts has been introduced for menswear stores. “We’re working on that now – workwear type stores, not just police and fire uniform stores – construction workers, pipeline workers, and truck drivers,” TJ said. “And the main reason is the leather that we use for police and fire duty wear is thicker than anybody else uses, so the workwear customer just can’t find a belt that heavy duty. It should be a natural for us.” “Business has been strong,” Tony said. “We continue to grow.” s

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Future

Looking for new customers is ongoing. “Every year, if you do nothing, you lose business because you’re going to have customers who die, get mad at you for whatever reason, so you’re going to lose those,” Tony said. “You always have to be looking to replenish those. And you always have to look for business when you’re busy. If you look for business when you’re slow, you’re going to make mistakes.” Trade shows are the main way the company markets itself. TJ currently has a number of shows he plans to attend in the U.S. They’ve only been to one show overseas. “It’s kind of prohibitively expensive to do an overseas show based on the amount of business we have there,” TJ said. Sometime in the future, an expansion is in the offing. Tony said the cost of the original, 15,000-foot building was $500,000, to add that same amount of space now is $1 million.

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What to see at Triple P

Owners Shane and Kayla Porter are shown inside of Triple P BBQ in Rock Falls with a couple of the restaurant’s menu options.

Barbecue restaurant feeling at home in Rock Falls

Story By Cody Cutter & Photos By Peter Balser For Sterling-Rock Falls Living

hane Porter messed around on his Brinkmann smoker one day, and it led to more than just a fine piece of

meat. Porter’s family and friends liked what came out, and after that, he started to show off his creations. One success led to another, and he and his wife, Kayla, have worked their way up to having their own restaurant, Triple P BBQ in Rock Falls. Porter’s journey went from his backyard in Polo to certified kitchen, and then to food truck, and then to someone else’s restaurant, and now to his own restaurant. “We just started barbecuing in the back yard, and then it led to a birthday party, and then a graduation party,” Porter said. “We got big enough where the County told us that we needed a certified kitchen.”

Decor hangs on the wall at the restaurant.

Continued on page 15

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Porter leased the former Long Shot Bar and Grill from local restaurateur Matt Prescott in October, having moved from shared space with Tin Roof Tavern near Galt. Whatever Porter cooked up was good enough to grab Prescott’s attention. “I wasn’t really seeking it. They seeked me out,” Porter said. “Things just kind of came together, and I thought, ‘Why not try it?’” Porter got his Brinkmann from a man who goes to the same church. One day, he met a man nicknamed “Barbecue Benny.” They would work together, and eventually Porter got his own grilling nickname: “Pulled Pork Porter” – shortened to “Triple P.” “Pulled Pork Porter” and “Barbecue Benny” took their talents to a rib competition for the Dixon Elks Club and won first prize. “Then we thought, we’ll go a little farther,” Porter said. In a rib contest in Princeton, the two partners competed against each other. That, too, was a success. “It was then that I decided I wanted to go even farther with this,” Porter added. Porter bought a food truck and ran it for 2 years before the owners of Tin Roof called in February 2017. Just a few months later, Porter was successful enough to leave his truck driving job at Raynor Garage Doors in Dixon after 10 years to concentrate on his business – which still caters via food truck every now and again. Barbecue and brisket platters are on the Triple P menu, as well as a sandwich with “Everything Under The Roof,” complete with pulled pork, brisket, sausage, and a rib. Combo platters are also available. All meats are smoked daily, which is something that Porter says sets his establishment apart from similar ones. Briskets take about 14 hours, pork butts about 10. Freshness of the meat is also a huge point of pride for Porter – so much that there is absolutely no left-over meat from the previous

More decor is shown on one of the restaurant’s walls.

Triple P BBQ

Address: 3312 W. Rock Falls Road, Rock Falls Phone: 815-625-7138 Online: triplepbbq.com or Facebook Hours: The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (longer hours planned for summer) and the bar is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. day. However, that does work against supply and demand sometimes. When they run out of something for the day, they’re out. “Everything’s a guess,” Porter said. “We try to predict what we’re going to sell in a day versus other prior sales. That’s the best we can do to keep a fresh product.” How about a beer with your barbecue? Triple P has a rotating tap stock. Some beers come from regional breweries, such as Lionstone Brewery of Geneseo. During one week in March, Lionstone options were Peanut Butter

Wheat Ale, Vanilla Porter, and Burning Rose. At least one Lionstone flavor will be on tap at any given week. “We try to get some different varieties,” Porter said. “Lionstone has been a good hit for us, actually. A lot of people are enjoying it.” Triple P still has some of the look and feel of the former Long Shot, and will include some outdoor activities when the weather gets nice. The owners also kept some of the Long Shot legacy on the menu. Porter decided to merge the two menus together, and burgers and wings are still on the menu. Steaks have become a recent option on Saturdays, coming across the road from The Butcher Shop. Loaded baked potatoes and homemade pies are also in their plans. “I think people are pleased to see us keep the menu,” Porter said. “A lot of them didn’t know what my menu was, so now they get a choice between the two. We can all make somebody happy. Everything’s been pretty smooth.” s

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Sauk Valley Shifters PORTRAITS BY ALEX T. PASCHAL FOR STERLING-ROCK FALLS LIVING

aron Egan is the third owner of this 1964 Ford Galaxy 500. Bought brand new by his aunt, Beatrice Kissner, it was then owned by his grandfather, David Hallman. Aaron has owned the car for more than 20 years, making a few mods with a different engine and some cosmetic work. Parts for this car are hard to come by, but the search “is what makes it fun,” Egan said.

Interested in joining the club?

Call Chuck Popejoy at 815-519-8377 or Dan Covell at 815-994-9127, or drop by Ink Storm tattoos at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month for the club’s meeting. Find the club on Facebook for more information.

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auk Valley Shifters Vice President Chuck Popejoy sits on his chopped 1978 Yamaha XS-650. He has been chopping, welding and reconfiguring cars and bikes for years, including the ‘rat rod’ in the back. The custom frame holds up a 1933 Essex sedan cab and is powered by a first generation turbo diesel Cummins engine pumping out serious horsepower. Popejoy puts his personality into his cars. From the double-barrel shotgun radiator mounts to the side-mounted “outside-the-car” gear lever, each of his rides is a work of mechanical art.

resident of the Sauk Valley Shifters Dan Covell has been tinkering around with the cars for only 3 years now, learning the art from business partner Chuck Popejoy, who is the club’s vice president. The two are hoping to grow the club from its current 13 members to anyone who is interested in a fun social club with a love for cars. The two stress that Sauk Valley Shifters is not a ‘rat rod’ club, “it just so happens many of our members lean towards that style of car,” said Dan. Many of the swap meets and car shows are too far away so the group is eager to grow and bring all kinds of car lovers into the mix. Dan’s car is a “Frankenstein” of parts from the ’80’s Mopar motor to the Model A body to the ’32 Ford grill and headlights.

teven W. Anderson has most of the parts for a 1948 Studebaker truck – the nose, cab and bed – but has dropped a GM Clifford Straight 6 power plant in the beast and grounded the ride with some wide track rubber. The hood is custom made and decked out in classic hot rod flames. See more members on page 19.

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ason Schuetz of Rock Falls spent a year and a half building his rat rod. The ride combines a ‘46 Chevy cab with a 4.3 liter engine and is fronted with a grill off a 1947 International truck. This a truly a labor of love that Jason says he’ll never sell.

arl Sword’s rat rod was put together with little money but a lot of time. The cab is a 1950 Chevy truck on top of a dump truck frame and powered by a Chevy 305 bored out. “I still have more to do, but it’s a lot of fun” Sword said. Often called “art cars,” rat rods truly reflect the personality of the builder and showcases their ingenuity in upcycling items into car parts. On Sword’s car, an old spittoon became the air filter and a beer keg the gas tank.

im Hatten of Dixon stands with a pair of his rat rod projects and his first car, a 1974 Plymouth Roadrunner, which he got at age 14. The middle rod’s cab was saved from a barn collapse that caved in the roof of a 1942 Ford. Elbow grease, a 360 Mopar engine, and a model A grill and bed later, Hatten has himself a unique ride. The blue ‘46 Chevy is an ongoing winter project with a 5.3 liter engine and a custom bed.

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Cole Havens (right) demonstrates a move to others at a Z.O.W.A. practice as organizer Ryan Zschiesche (back left) looks on.

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Story By Cody Cutter & Photos By Breanne N. Hunter For Sterling-Rock Falls Living

yan Zschiesche grew up a devout fan of Hulkamania, the Monday Night Wars, and the Attitude Era. That love of professional wrestling lead Zschiesche to become involved with it on a local level. For 6 years, the Prophetstown native did so much more than just move around in the squared circle – he displayed a lot of showmanship, which has lead to his current schtick of “Zeke Zschiesche, the Zen of Wrestling.” In March 2017, Zschiesche opened his own wrestling academy based on his character: the Zen of Wrestling Academy (Z.O.W.A.). His

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classroom, or “dojo,” is at his mother’s dance studio, Z & She’s Dance, in downtown Rock Falls. The wood floor, windows and dancing grace get traded for a ring with body slams and leg locks. Though it appears violent, it really isn’t. “There are a lot of misconceptions about what pro wrestling is,” Zschiesche said. “Pro wrestling is an art. What we do is real. I want people to know that pro wrestling is about as entertaining as anything on Earth.” Continued on page 23

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Professional wrestling events have popped up from time to time in Rock Falls, as far back as AWA shows at Rock Falls High School in the 1970s. With the growth of professional wrestling as “sports entertainment” – a term coined by World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon in the 1990s – many independent promotions have popped up throughout the nation. Funky Munky is one of those promotions. Many of Z.O.W.A.’s graduates move on to the Sterling-based promotion, where Zschiesche got his start. Giving the people of Rock Falls and Sterling a start in their own town was something Zschiesche wanted to do. “There were so many people around here that were trying to train, and we couldn’t get them to train because we didn’t really have the ring, or the space,” Zschiesche said. “The small ring we have is good for this situation because it fits in our venue here, and we’re able to put it up.” Among the first graduates was Bailey Bright, a Sterling native who attended school in Oregon. Bright, who wrestles under his real name, watched WWE star John Cena as a child, and despite not having a lot of people around him sharing the same interest, was determined to be a performer one day. Z.O.W.A. presented Bright with more than just the moves and slams. “It has furthered my skill set, and taught me even more than I thought I knew,” Bright said. “The psychology of wrestling, and how to protect yourself and be safe. I just had the fundamentals down before Z.O.W.A.” Zschiesche has a staff of trainers to work with new recruits. Tyler Priegel of Savanna is one of the trainers and teaching is something he’s used to doing – he is also a teacher at River Bend Middle School in Fulton. “We’re all better at different kinds of things than others,” said Priegel, whose character is the “Dodgeball Superstar,” “so we give them

Tyler Priegel, a trainer for Z.O.W.A., offers instruction to the wrestlers.

Zen Of Wrestling Academy

Contact: Ryan Zschiesche at 309716-5097 Online: Z.O.W.A. on Facebook

Next event

Z.O.W.A. presents Blackhawk Bash is set for 7 p.m. April 7 at Oregon VFW No. 8739, 1310 W. Washington St. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. You can purchase tickets through Z.O.W.A.’s Facebook page. exposure to all kinds of different things.” Being involved in professional wrestling is not for everyone. Zschiesche screens potential wrestlers to see whether they’ll make the cut. At Z.O.W.A., recruits learn about what it takes to be a professional wrestler, and learn holds, maneuvers and psychology. “There has to be some form of dedication and

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some background,” Zschiesche said. “I’d like to have guys that have an athletic background – not saying you have to have one – but I do prefer that. There’s also a certain mentality that I need to be aware of.” For Cody Herrick, Z.O.W.A. was the closest wrestling dojo from his hometown of Elizabeth – more than 60 miles away. “The training here, because it’s small, we get the one-on-one training,” Herrick said. “You get to learn more than if you were at a bigger place and absorb so much more, it’s not even funny.” Zschiesche’s academy is the only dojo within at least 50 miles of Rock Falls. Anyone can acquire skill through strength, or wit through a microphone, but Z.O.W.A. rolls it into one, using plenty of safe, one-on-one training. “We have a spot right here in Rock Falls, Illinois, that can at least get you started on that path,” Zschiesche said. “We have a great philosophy we’re trying to instill in all the kids. Doing things the right way is basically our goal here.” s

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It all starts with these three parts

Christine Interone-Cutter, owner of Food Fitness You, stands in the kitchen at the Sterling business.

Sterling woman helping others with their health, one step at a time ood Fitness You combines health, fitness and self care. “It’s a lifestyle change because all three areas need consistent work, no matter what life throws at you,” owner Christine Interone-Cutter, 48, of Sterling, said. The concept has three parts. “So, I have the food, the kitchen. We do plant-based meal prep here every Sunday,” Interone-Cutter said. “And we have fitness classes every day of the week except for Friday evenings and then no weekends. I also do an online challenge, a 21-day challenge, every month where I give everyone ... a task or challenge on what to work on or try to influence more of and I do a workout. Those are my three things.” The Food Fitness You kitchen provides healthy, plant-based lunches prepared by Interone-Cutter and her son, Justin Cutter. “We take registrations before Saturday, and lately, we’ve been having an average of 14 to 15 people coming,” she said. “There’s no animal byproducts in the kitchen, not even honey.”

Food Fitness You in Sterling hosts fitness and workout classes.

Continued on page 27

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The ingredients are then gathered into containers by the clients resulting in five meals to take home. “It’s just a way to educate and teach people that you can eat vegetables,” she said. “The reason I don’t add meat is because you can add meat at home if you want. ... You can stir-fry your own meat at home and add it to any of the dishes.” Interone-Cutter said she took all of last year learning from people, their patterns and what they’re looking for. “Basically, I just found out that the general public is not getting enough vegetables or fruits – which we need, especially now with the flu going around,” she said. She wants healthy meals to be easy. “I try to keep things simple. It doesn’t have to be difficult, because I think that’s where a lot of people are challenged when it’s a little too hard, and it’s not actually,” she said. “Cooking vegetables and cooking fruit are easier than cooking meat to me.” Fitness classes are offered, and InteroneCutter now has some assistance. She recently hired another trainer Erica Meyer-Hanlon to help her out because doing 13 classes a week was getting a little difficult. About 16 clients attend each personal training class. “My fitness classes are small groups because I want to give them the personal touches,” Interone-Cutter said. “Nobody is in the back row, so if they need help on their technique or form, I’m right there.” There are beginners and more advanced participants, and everyone is encouraged to proceed at their own pace. All ages are welcome, both male and female, she said. Currently, client ages range from 35 to 73. “I have a young-at-heart class that I run when the snowbirds come home,” she said. The twice-a-week class starts in April and is “for the people who just want to keep moving, but not a strenuous workout.” The exercises are varied. “We don’t let the ladies know what workout it is or what type of class,” she said. “We do boot camp, high-intensity training. I do a burst class that is close to high-intensity.” There is also piloxing, which is a combination of pilates and boxing, and Meyer-Hanlon leads a pilates class. The 21-Day Challenge is a competition with yourself. The challenges can include trying to eat a pound of greens in a day, try eating five servings of fruits and vegetables in a day, four bottles of water in a day, moving for 3 minutes every hour in a day, naming two things you’re

Through different packages, customers can participate in workouts at Food Fitness You.

Food Fitness You

Address: 1802 Griswold Ave., Sterling Phone: 815-605-1019 Online: foodfitnessyou.com and Facebook Contact: Christine Interone-Cutter grateful for, and giving yourself “me time” each day. The business and its owner had their own challenges in 2017. “We opened this up in February of last year and I got thrown every curveball possible last year, but we got through it,” Interone-Cutter said. “And my ladies stayed with me, and I’m really thankful for them, so we kept on doing the challenges.” Even getting started in the business would have proved challenging for some. “I kind of went back and forth to school, so I went back to school at 44 and finished my degree in wellness,” she said. “And I went and got certifications in health coaching, two different ones, and that’s when I decided to embark on this.” She started without a building. “I was doing this at people’s houses at first – the health coaching part,” Interone-Cutter said. “And then we started having classes and my husband [Matt Cutter] started scouting around for places or property because we needed a little bit bigger space and because I said the only thing I need is a kitchen to fully implement the whole Food Fitness You, and he found this place.” It was a mixed blessing.

Package prices

Food Fitness You offers a variety of different plans to suit the needs of different customers. Bronze: $55 monthly access to group sessions Silver: $150 for 3 months, includes locker rental and access to group sessions Gold: $210 for 3 months, includes locker rental, access to group sessions and 3 months of 21-Day Challenge Platinum: $375 for 3 months includes 12 private sessions, 3 months of 21-Day Challenges, access to group sessions and locker rental 21-Day Challenge: $30 per month “It was not a pretty place,” she said. “He showed it to me and I’m like, ‘Oh honey, wow, that’s a lot of work,’ because it was literally a jungle – trees growing between the cement. You could barely see the building.” But the couple decided they should take a look at it. With the help of business partner Jim Loves, who has the back of the building, they worked a miracle, which included pouring a new floor and putting in the piping for restrooms. But just like with the people who Interone-Cutter helps, the hard work was worth it. “That’s how it all got started here, and it’s been a fun venture to get it going.” s

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Rock Falls artist Crystal Collinson is shown in her studio. Her style is organic and natural.

A Crystal Blue point of view

Self-described folk artist fond of using organic materials, cloth

STORY BY LUCINDA HALL & PHOTOS BY ALEX T. PASCHAL FOR STERLING-ROCK FALLS LIVING

hether creating majestic butterflies or mystic sea creatures, masterfully knotting macramé or sketching playful caricatures, Crystal Collinson travels the imaginative journey of a multimedia artist. “Art can take you in so many directions,” said Collinson, 37, of Rock Falls. “It’s entertainment for the eye.” She knew at a young age that she had a passion for art and credits her now-retired Sterling High School teacher, Bruce Bley, with teaching her everything she knows. Collinson went on to study art at Sauk Valley Community College. It’s there, at the cam-

For more information

Go to facebook.com/crystalblueartisticexpressions for more information about Crystal Blue Artistic Expressions. pus book store, that she first starting selling her macramé and jewelry. A self-described folk artist, she is adept at using both conventional and unconventional methods. She is especially fond of using organic materials and cloth – particularly hemp for her macramé – but is also skillful with colored and watercolor pencils and has even used fine-point

colored markers to create lively pieces. Crystal Blue Artistic Expression was launched in 2012 by Collinson as a way to promote her creations at art and craft shows. The name pays homage to a former co-worker who lightheartedly started calling her “Crystal Blue” after a popular 1960’s song, “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” “The name just kind of stuck,” she said. Not surprising, she has found other artistic niches to expand her outreach. Collinson teaches both children and adult art classes at the Woodland Arts Academy.

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She has also become a much sought-after face painter and is regularly featured at both the Twin City Farmers Market in Sterling and the Dixon City Market. She even did caricatures for students at Rock Falls High School’s prom. One of her favorite gigs is Gardenstock, hosted each year at Distinctive Gardens in Dixon. It was also where she nourished her love for Monarch butterflies. “Crystal is a long-standing Gardenstock artist and has exhibited inside Distinctive Gardens for our yearly Shop Stories,” said Lisa LeFevre, who, with her husband Bud, own the business. “In 2016, we focused on her Monarch Mandalas for the Spring “Transform” Shop Story. She has been raising Monarchs for a few years now and is passionate about them, her art and community.” Mandala is an artform dating backing to Hindu and Buddhist traditions that focuses on repeating colors, shapes and patterns radiating from the center. They are thought to be objects of meditation and spirituality. Collinson’s mandala depicts eight monarch butterflies radiating geometrically from a circular center. It is an intriguing and bold piece that has been evolving for more than 3 years, adding elements as the spirit moves her. “I enjoy just looking at it and visualizing what direction to go with it next,” she said. Charmed by a Monarch caterpillar feasting on her backyard milkweed plant, Collinson was moved to learn more about them and added more milkweed plants for the evolving butterflies to feast on. Monarchs are frequent subjects of her designs. Macramé is another of her favorite mediums. Macramé is an ancient form of textile art using organic hemp fibers. Its popularity has diminished over centuries. Collinson practices this ancient knotting art and incorporates it into jewelry and decorative accent pieces. Among her pieces are glass candle holders, plant pots and jars. “I enjoy keeping an artform alive and giving a fresh face to it. The more I see things going away, the more I am drawn to them,” she shared. “I love macramé, just because.” Her mother brings her jars so she can repurpose items that are both artistic and useful to give them a second life. “My mom is really good and she’s really thrifty. I make them pretty,” she laughed. “And I appreciate her contributions.” It is a labor-intensive art and she does up to 30 items at a time. First, she positions colored

Upcoming events

This Native American statue, passed down from Crystal’s grandfather, has become a bit of a talisman in her studio.

April 21: Earth Day at Twin City Farmer Market in Sterling May 30: Dixon City Market at Dixon Riverfront Plaza June 12, 26; July 10, 24; and Aug. 7: Movies at Grandon at Grandon Civic Center in Sterling Aug. 3: Hot Dog Days in downtown Sterling Aug. 11: Venetian Night at Dixon Riverfront Plaza Aug. 18: Gardenstock Art & Music Festival at Distinctive Gardens in Dixon

glass stones, grouts around the stones, allows them to dry and finally weaves the intricate hemp designs around the stones. The results are beautifully rustic and reminiscence of popular fad items in the 1960s and ‘70s. Collinson currently has items on display at Baked by Liz in Morrison. Her artistic endeavors took a quirky turn in 2014. On a whim, she contacted Dixon Main Street after seeing an ad for the annual Venetian Night, hoping to display her crafts. While there were no craft opportunities, she was asked if she would do face painting. She’d never done it. “I just said to myself, ‘You know what. I think I’ll give it a shot!’” she laughed. Using her daughter, Emmaliah, now age 6, as her test subject, she realized there was a lot to learn. “Let’s just say the first attempts were not so successful,” she reflected with a smile. She had a lot to learn about and the first thing she did was source the right types of paint. “Live art is so interesting and creative,” she said. Since her initial attempts, she has gone on to be a much sought-after face painter. “At just about any event, you’ll find

a line of people waiting to see her, both young and old,” shared Lauren Mills, event and sponsorship director for the Dixon Chamber and Dixon Main Street. “She has painted children, parents, grandparents, band members and other entertainers, and even myself.” Her designs are bold and authentic. Sometimes, her subjects know what they want to be or bring pictures on their phones. Other times she just improvises. She also has a book of examples people can chose from. One girl even asked to have her face painted to accessorize with her outfit. The most popular requests are for action figures. One of Collinson’s most detailed and quirkiest was a request for The Joker of Batman fame. “Crystal has grown to be a staple at all of our Dixon Chamber and Main Street events throughout the past few years,” added Mills. Face painting is no longer reserved for school fun fairs, nor is it reserved for just children. Collinson has taken it to a whole new level, including participating in a fashion art show at The Next Picture Show in Dixon. It involved whole body painting of exposed skin – akin to washable tattoos. She currently takes reservations for face painting parties for children and adults. Collinson also does paint parties hosted at The Rusty Fox in Sterling. Participants are guided step-by-step to create their own masterpieces. If all that isn’t enough, she also is the singer for the rock band Nova, performing with two instructor musicians she met at the Woodland Arts Academy. She works from her cozy home studio, where daughter, Emmaliah, also has her own childsized drawing table. Collinson feels blessed to have found a career that allows her to stay at home and focus exclusively on her art with encouragement from husband, Kelly, her daughter, son, Ezra, and stepson, Bud. s

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